Quiz game apparatus



Feb lz, 1952 Filed May 14, 1947 G. W. EMMERT QUIZ GAME APPARATUS 5 Shegts-Sheet l FlG.l

INVENTOR BY GEORGE w. EMMERT ATTORNEY Feb. w EMMERT QUIZ GAME APPARATUS 3 Sheds-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1947 IIIIIIIII-I.7IIIIIIIII "I"'/I..

INVENTOR GEORGE W. EMMERT ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES earner @FFHCE" uiz GAME APPARATUS George W. Emmert, Chicago, Ill. AppIicationMay 14, 1947, Serial No. 747,909 Claims. (01. e5 9) This invention relates to quiz game apparatus and the like, and more particularly to such apparatus by which a predetermined number of choices are presented for selection, and upon the exercise of such selection the apparatus provides an indication of its accuracy or correctness.

In many respects, my present invention provides apparatus adapted to serve the functions of a quiz answer receiver and accuracy checker, in that it cfiers a predetermined number of choices for the selection of an answer to each of a prearranged series of questions and answers, and then rules upon the correctness of the answers by giving a positive resultant indication.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide mechanical apparatus adapted to a game of choice, such as a quiz game, which apparatus provides a positive indication of the correctness or accuracy of the choice.

As another object, the invention comprehends the provision of apparatus embodying means for making a selection of any one of a predetermined number of possible choices at any one time, and

in which the correct selection for each time effects a change to provide a difierent correct selection for the next time, whereby the series of correct selections for a succession of times is varied through a predetermined irregularseque'nce.

Another object of this invention is to' provide apparatus having the characteristics set forth in the preceding object and in which the cycles of recurrence of the" predetermined irregular sequence of correct selections span" a multiple of the number of possible choices at any one time.

' My present invention has for a further object the provision of quiz game apparatus forindicating the correctness of answers to prearranged questions and given choices of answers placed in predetermined sequence.

It is another object of the invention to provide in quiz game apparatus a variable 'part'ad iustable to a number of predetermined positions suited to various sets of questions so as to change the relationship of question numbers in a sequence to the correct answer selecting positions, thereby minimizing the selection of correct answers by memory of number sequence.

quiz game apparatus adapted to use with a practi cally unlimited number of question sets.

It is also within the purview of the invention to provide quiz game apparatus of the type referred to and which is further characterized by inexpensive and durable structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the three sheets of drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are, respectively, top plan eievational views of quiz game apparatus embodying a preferred form of my invention;

Figs. 3 and 5 are side sectional views of the apparatus wherein the sections are taken substantially on line 3'3 and 5--5 of Fig. 1- and viewed in the directions indicated by the arrows; said views providing illustrations of different phases of operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a part utilized in the apparatus disclosed in Figs. 3 and 5;

Fig. 6 is a top sectional vievvwherein the section is taken substantially as depicted by the'lines 5-6 and the accompanying arrows'in Fig. 5'; and Fig. '7 is a front sectional view with the'section taken substantially as indicated bythe lines 7-4 in Fig. 3 and the ac'companyingarrows.

Considered generally, the exemplary embodiment of my quiz game apparatus which is disclosed in the accompanying drawings for illustrative purposes is enclosed within a housing In of a type such that the internal working parts, and particularly their positions at any period of operation are not visible to the user ofthe apparatus. In one of its preferred adaptations, the disclosed apparatus may be utilized with a set of cards arranged in predetermined sequence, and each of which cards presents a question to be answered, as well as apredetermined number of answers, among which one is correct. The disclosed apparatus presents a number of selective positions corresponding in number to the given answers and open to choice for the selection of a particular answer by the use of a freeplaying element. Upon making a selection by the use of the free-playing element, the disclosed apparatus functions through its internal structure and relationship of parts to provide a positive indication of the accuracy or correctness of the selected answer. y 1

Although any number of suggested answers may be provided for each question, I have chosen four as a reasonable number in this apparatus.

and'side The embodied principles and structure would be substantially the same for the apparatus if the number of answer choices were different.

As depicted in the drawings, my preferred housing I is desirably composed of an upper part I2 which is integrally formed, as by molding of an opaque thermoplastic material, phenol fiber, or the like. The upper part l2 of the housing includes among its integral parts a front wall l3 of irregular contour, a rear wall I4, side walls l5 and 16; and a top wall l1. At the bottom,'the housing is closed by a bottom wall l8 consisting of a sheet of plastic material or the like prefer ably adapted removably to be securedin place. by fastening means, such as screws I9, threaded into bosses 20 which are integrally formed" on. the side and rear walls near the bottomsthereof,

At the top and near the rear, an opening 22 of generally rectangular contour is provided; i In' that top opening is secured, as by cementing, an

integrally molded-fitting 23; which projectsupwardly from-the-top wall l1-and-has therein 'an elongated slot '24 of irregular contour and shaped to=fiare outwardly somewhat at the top-to pre sent four spaced positions'25, '26, 21and 28-of a size suflicient readily-and easily to receive and pass. afree-playing device 29 which, in the pres-- ent instance, comprises aball. Between the spaced positions 25, 26,- 21 and 28 .the widthofthe slot 24 is restricted=byintegraland-inwardly projecting lobes 30 to prevent the passage of the free-playing device. To facilitate the mounting ofthe fitting 23-, it has an integrally formed shoulder-32 extending around the outsideof the walls thereof, which'shoulder rests against and is 1.

adapted-to be-cemented to the outer surface of thetop wall l1. By preference; the fitting-23 has a portion" 33* extending into the interior ofthe housing. Thus-,- the wallsof the fitting are of sufllcient depth to serve as an initial guide for the free-playing device; Also;-and as indicated in'Figsa 1 and '1,'the respective spacedtpositions 25, 26, -21'.' and.- 28-for the'i-nsertionofthe-freeplaying' deviceare identifiedby indicia such as numerals 34 at a readily visible position: at the exterior thereof.

In the front wall l3 considerably below the level of'theopening'22 and displaced'fromeach othernlaterally' of the housing are twoaoutlet openings 35'and 36, as shown in Figs: 3 and 6. These two' outlet openings provide alternative positions from-which, in'the disclosedapparatus, the free-playing device emerges from-thehousing :after'being placedtherein at a selected positiontoprovide a visual indication of the accuracy 2:

orrcorrectness of theselected positionof--inser- 171011.. As shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6,.pockets 31 and 38"formed.in.the' housing adjacent the exterior ofsthe outlet-openings 35.an'd 36,respectively, are preferably. provided; to receive and. retain the free-playingdevice inan exposed and readily accessible position for re-use.--

Within the-housing 10, the path of travel of the free-playing-device is controlledby a system of. chutes extending downwardly from each of I 25, 26, 21 and 28 for insertion of the free-playing device, is substantially arcuate, curving downwardly and toward the front wall of the housing. Integrally formed and substantially parallel ribs 49, 42. 43, 44 and 45 on the upper surface of the insert 39, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, 6 and 7, define channel-like guide chutes 48, 41, 48 and 49 adjacent one another and extending downwardly in aligned relationship to each of the spaced positions 25, 26,21 and 28, respectivelyyfor insertion of the free-playing device. The guide chutes 46, 41, 48 and 49 are of substantially equal length and terminate well within; the housing H3 at positions spaced from the front wall I3 and with the terminal end portions thereof substantially horizontal, so that a freeeplaying device, such as the ball 29, having weight and passing freely down one of the guide chutes by the action of gravitational force, gains kinetic energy by which it is projected from theendof the guide chute.

Inaddition to terminating at positions spaced inwardly from the'front wall l3 of the housing, the :guide'chutes 46, 41, 48 and 49 also terminate at positions spaced upwardly from the bottom wall l8- of the housing so as to be well above theoutlet openings 35 and 33 and the pockets 31-and 38. In the space between the lower ends of the guide chutes 46, 41, 48 and 49 and the front wall l3 of the housing, the insert 39 is formed to provide reversely sloped outlet chutes 50 and 52 extending laterally across the interior of the housing in side-by-side relationship. The outlet chutes 50 and 52 are separated by an intermediate partitioning wall 53 which is spaced from and somewhat below the level of the lower ends of the guide chutes. Also, the outlet chutes 59 and 52 are below the'level of the lower ends of the guide chutes; the chute 52 being adjacent the lower end of those guide chutes and the outlet chute 50 being spaced from the ends of the guide-chutes by substantially the width of the outlet chute 52 and generally below the level of the outlet chute 52. Thus, the respective general. levels of the outlet chutes 52 and 59. digress with their respective displacements from :the ends of the guide chutes. Additionally, one of the outlet chutes is sloped laterally toward one of the outlet openings while the other is sloped laterally toward the other of the outlet openings. In the present instance, the outlet' chute 52'slopes toward a plane surface 54 leadingoutwardly to the outlet opening 36 and pocket 38- around one end of the outlet chute 59: The" outlet chute 50, which is desirably adjacent the front wall I3 of the housing, slopes somewhat towardthat. front wall and toward the outlet-opening 35 and pocket 31.

From the description of the structure thus far presented, it may be readily understood that the kinetic energy gained by'a free-playing element of predetermined weight when dropped into one of the selective positions, will reach a substantially predetermined amount when the passage of the free-playing device alon the guide chute is unimpeded. The disclosed apparatus is so designed that with a free-playing device of predetermined weight, such as a steel bearing ball, the unimpeded passage of the ball down one of the guide chutes will effect its projection from the endof that guide chute across the outlet chute 52 and into the outlet chute 50. The path of the free-playing device in such an instance is depicted in Fig. 5 by a dotted line 55, with various progressive positions'of the free-playing device 5 being indicated in dotted lines at 29a, 29b, 29c, 29d, 29c, 29f'and 299. In order to guide the free,-

playing device and prevent it from bouncing uniduly, I prefer to. provide an angularly disposed baffle '56 which is secured to the interior of .the front wall l3 at a' position above the outlet chute 50; as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

In the disclosed embodiment of my invention and in order to provide an audible signal designating the passage of the free-playing device along the chute 52, I have provided a bell 51 se-' cured to the insert 39 and disposed in a position such that the free-playing device strikes the edge of the bell during its passage along the chute 52.

As shown in Fig. 7, the bell 51 is secured to an integral boss 58. On the lower surface of the insert 39, by fastening means such as a screw59, an edge 60 of the bell projects and is exposed through a slot 62 in the chute 52, so that 'as the free-playing device rolls down the outlet chute 52, it engages the edge 60 of the bell, thereby-to provide an audible signal.

Since the free-playing device is projected from one of the guide chutes into the outlet chute'50 whenever its movement down the guide chute is.

unimpeded, it follows that a predetermined-restriction or impedance to the movement of the free-playing device along a guide chute will reduce its kinetic energy and cause it to fall into the outlet chute 52, rather than jumping across that chute and into the outlet chute 50. In the disclosed apparatus, I have not only used this principle for obtaining the desirel selectivity which renders a physical and visual indication,

but I also utilize the energy absorbed-from the-reduction of the kinetic energy of the free-playing device to effect variations in the position at'which a correct selection is made. Thus, the use-of the free-playing device in making the desired selections provides the operating power for the apparatus and makes it practically automaticfor following a predetermined and pre-arranged'series of questions or the like.

As illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, a shaft 63 extends laterally across the interior of the upper part I2 of the housing with its axis disposed above and near the lower ends of the guide chutes dfi, 41, 48 and 49. It is by preference that the axis of the shaft 63 is practically above and substantially parallel to the lower end edges of the, guide chutes. is axially hollow and which has a polygonal outer sectional shape. At its ends, the shaft 63 is supported by doweled knobs or buttons 64 and 65 having integral portions 66 and E1, respec- I further prefer to utilize a shaft which tively, extending into and secured to the shaft.

Mounted within the housing at axially spaced 3 il in nection-"between the shaft and the respective vane-supporting elements, so that all of'th'e vane 'supporting elements rotate with the shaft and'movement of anyone of the vane-supporting elements 'moves the shaft and the others. At angularly'disposed positions, the vane-supporting elements have vanes 35 and 8B projecting radially therefrom; The radial length of the'vanes is s'uch' -that'vvhen and'only when a vane is in a position-such that it is disposed in substantially perpendicular relationship to the end surface of the adjacent and longitudinally aligned guide 'ch'ute," that vane will obstruct the passage of the free-playing element along that guide chute, as depicted in Fig. 3; When any of the vanes are in any of their other normal positions, the freeplaying element will pass freely and without obstruction along the guide chutes.

In-order tosimplify production and to reduce tool costs, the vane-carrying elements 15, 16, TI and 18 are similar in structure. In order to vary the'positions of the vanes so that only one guide chute is obstructed at any one time, the similar vane-carrying elements are disposed with their vanes projecting in different radial directions from the shaft.

;I n the exemplary structure which embodies four guide chutes and has four possible selections for choice, a variable sequence could be provided with four vanes if the shaft turned a quarter of a turn" and the vanes were disposed with ninety de rees separation. However, a four number se; lquence could be readily memorized without conscious eifort so that the value of the device would be depreciated by providing a subconscious or conscious clue to the correct answer. To avoid this, and to increase the variations in a sequence cycle; I have utilized two vanes on eachvanecarrying element. It may beobserved that the preferred number of sides of the polygonal shaft section is "a multiple of the number of selective *sssaiessgi Also, the number of vanes on each 'vane-'ca rrying element is equal to the aforementioned multiple. Specifically, and for example,

' the disclosed shaft has an eight-sided section and is utilized with the four selective chutes with two varies on each vane-carrying element. 'Io provide anj eight number sequence cycle by judicially an'dfirregularly varying the positions of the vanecarrying elements, the confusion of number sequence ineach cycle is suflicient to avoid easy or subconscious memorizing of the numbers of the 'seguencecycl'e. FQWith thefspecific and exemplary structure disclosedfthe selection of 'an obstructed chute by placement of the free-playing element in the positionj togdesignate a correct answer causes the movement of the free-playing element to be impeded by contact ,with one of thevanes 'as depictedin Fig. 3. In this instance, the kinetic energy of the free-playing element efiects movepositions along the shaft 53, which positions are in substantially longitudinal alignment with the guide chutes it, '41, 48 and 49, are a number of vane-carrying elements 75, i=6, 1'! and 18; [These vane-carrying elements preferably have collar portions 19, 8B, 82 and 83, respectively, of a length such that they serve as locating spacers for the ring-carrying element. Axially through the collar portions, polygonal openings, such as 84 '(Fig.

4), fit onto the shaft to provide a driving con ment of the vaneand rotation of the shaft and other vanes to vary the position of the vanes during passage of the free-playing element. The kinetic energylthus absorbed in the movement of "i; he.. vane -carrying structure sufficiently depletes the kinetic energy of the moving free-playing elementjo. cause it to fall intothe outlet chute 52.

The course' cf the free-playing element in such an instance is indicated by a dotted line 81 in Figs. 3,.and 6 and by sequential positions 29h,

351L291, zen-291, 29m, zsm and 29.

. In order to effect stoppage of the vane movements atthe proper vane positions in each instance. a substantially star-shaped retaining eleeg'eaeioce ment 881s mounted on one end of theshaft 'and drivingly connected thereto with the notches between the points of the peripheral star-shaped surface aligned with the various angularpositions of the projecting vanes on the'shaft. To provide an effective and rugged releasable retainingelement for coaction with the star-shaped retaining element'88, I have provided a weighted ball 89 movable linearly with retainingchannel walls 90 and 92 and disposed above the-starshapedretaining element 88 so that thenormal gravitational force on the ball biases the retainin'g element to positions in which the ball rests in the successive notches thereof.

In order to provide an additional and effective variation for the sequence cycles, aswell as to provide a visual indication of the proper starting position for a prearranged series of questions without disclosing the positions of the vanes with-- in the housing, I have provided an indicating disc 93 on the end of the shaft 63 and secured-thereto, which disc carries an irregular series of positionindicating indicia visible through an aperture 94 inthe side wall I of the housing, The shaft and the vanes may thus be turned to any predetermined starting position for a pre-arranged set of questions by manual rotation of the knob Nathat starting position being thendesignated by an-=identifying markvisible through the aperture 94.

In order-to'prevent the positions of the-vanes from being detected-by looking through the slot 24 -at any-time a partition wall 95 desirably-projects downwardly from theinterior of the molded fitting:- 23;- In my disclosed structure, and as shown-in Fig.3, the partition wall 95 is-braced by aeross piece 96.

From the foregoing description and reference to-theaccompanying drawings, it maybe readily appreciated that I have provided-quiz game apparatus adapted to low manufacturing and assemblycosts as well as-to long and trouble-free service in-use.- With the parts molded of a plastic material, they-may-be secured together to a large extent-by the application of a suitable cement at thejoints during assembly. Furthermore, the vane and shaft structure are susceptible to consistent-and easy assembly asa separate subassembly, as well as to easy placement and assembly in the-housing prior to insertion of the insert-39. The insert 39; carrying the bell 51, is then readilyvinsertable into thehousing before placement and securing of the bottom wall 18. In order-to insureproper lateral location of the insei'tifl-within-the housing part l2,iintegral ribs BT-andfilt areprovided on the exteriorof the fitnecessitates no mechanical skill or manipulation in its use, other than the preliminary setting to a startingposition and the placement of the freeplayingelement for designatingselections.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may he madewithout departing from the spirit :of the invention'pand I do not wish tobe limited 'to the precise details' of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'of the'United States, is:

1. In quiz game apparatus, the combination comprising a number of inclined ball-receiving chutes presenting alternative choices for selection, a weighted element of a shape and construction such that it will move down a selected chute by gravitational force when placed on said chute to designate a selection, rotatably supported means including a polygonal shaft, the number of sides of said polygonal shaft being equal to a multiple'of the number of chutes, vane elements hav-- ing central openings of a size and shape to fit onto said polygonal shaft and each having a number of radially projecting vanes thereon equal to said multiple, and said vane elements being mounted on said shaft for rotational movement therewith and in varying positions such that one vane at a time is disposed in a position substantially aligned with and transverse to an adjacent portion of one of the chutes, said one of the vanes being in a position to intercept and be moved by said weighted element.

2. In quiz game apparatus adapted to the selection of alternative choices by the placement of a weighted element at one of a plurality of positions, the combination comprising a number of guide chutes equal to the number of alternative choices presented, said. guide chutes being constructedand arranged for the movement of the weighted element therealong, at substantially predetermined and normally varying rates from one of the chute ends to the other end thereof, a plurality of outlet chutes disposed transversely of and at different distances from the ends of the guide chutes for receiving the weighted element from said other ends of the guide chutes, a plurality of movably supported vanes mounted adjacent and in positions of longitudinal alignment with the guide chutes, said vanes being relatively disposed and interconnected so that one of the vanes at a time obstructs one of the guide chutes at a position to deflect the normal travel of the weighted element, one of said outlet chutes receiving the weighted element when it is undeflected by a vane, and the other of the outlet chutes receiving the weighted element when it is deflected by engagement with a vane, and said vanes being movable by the force of the weighted element to vary the positions of the vanes so tochange the guide chute which is obstructed.

3. In quiz game apparatus, the combination comprising a housing having therein a plurality of upper openings at elevated positions and two outlet openings disposed in spaced relationship to one anotherat a level below the upper openings, an inclined guide chute extending downwardly and in the general direction of the outlet openings from each of the upper openings, sloped outlet chutes disposed in sideby-side relationship and substantially at ri ht angles to the lower ends of the guide chutes and each extending to one of said outlet openings, said outlet chutes beingbelow the levels of the lower ends of the guide chutes and at different distances from the lower ends of the guide chutes, a ball of a size to be dropped into a selected one of the top openings and to roll down the associated guide chute, the weight of said ball the slopes of said chutes being so related to the spacing of the outlet chutes from the ends of the guide chutes-that the ball will normally jump across the outlet chute that is nearer the ends of the guide chutes and into the other outlet chute when the move ment of said ball down a guide chute is unrestricted, and means hidden from View from outside the housing for restricting movement of the ball down predetermined and sequentially varying ones of the guide chutes to an extent that the ball will fall into the outlet chute which is nearer the ends of the guide chutes.

4. Quiz game apparatus comprising, in combination, a housing having therein a plurality of separate top openings and two outiet openings displaced from and at a level below the top openings, an inclined guide chute extending downwardly from each of the top openings, sloped outlet chutes disposed in side-by-side relationship at the lower ends of the guide chutes and each extending to one of said outlet openings, means movably supporting a series of vanes in positions such that each is aligned longitudinally with one of the guide chutes, said vanes normally having positions such that one of the vanes at a time provides an obstruction for one of the guide chutes, means providing actuating connections between said vanes for sequentially moving them into obstructing positions relative to the chutes, a Weight element of a size to be dropped into a selected one of the top openings and to pass down the associated guide chute to one of the outlet chutes, the obstructions of said guide chutes by said vanes serving to determine which of the outlet chutes the weight element will pass to from the selected one of the guide chutes, the weight and movement of said weight element in a guide chute obstructed by a vane providing actuating force by engagement with the chute obstructing vane for effecting predetermined movements of all the vanes.

5. Quiz game apparatus as defined in claim 4, and further characterized by a manually movable element having an indicating device connected thereto and connected to said vane-supporting means for manually varying the positions of said vanes.

GEORGE W. EMMERT.

CES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,062,453 Hastings Dec. 1, 1936 2,311,217 Emmert Feb. 16, 1943 

